Yankees broadcasters comment on struggling Joc Pederson's physique before game-tying homer
YES announcer Ryan Ruocco seemingly made a crack Monday about Rangers veteran Joc Pederson's physique, with the broadcast noting his awful season moments before his game-tying homer off Devin Williams in the ninth inning of the Yankees' eventual 8-5 walk-off loss in 10 innings at Globe Life Field.
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'You can see the physique has definitely evolved for Joc,' Ruocco said before Pederson pulled an 84-mph changeup into the right field seats to tie the game at 5-5.
Pederson, 33, is now in his 12th season and has transformed over the years from a center fielder to a designated hitter.
Like most 30-year-olds, he's seemingly put on some weight over the years.
4 Joc Pederson celebrates his homer Monday.
AP
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He's listed as 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, which Baseball Almanac actually lists as his weight from his rookie season, but a Reddit post shows a leaner Pederson during his Dodgers years from 2014-20, before he transitioned into more of a prototypical slugger in recent years.
Regardless of his size, Pederson produced a strong 2024 season with Arizona before inking a two-year, $37 million deal with the Rangers that has not worked out thus far.
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4 Joc Pederson's stats before the homer.
@awfulannouncing/X
Ruocco and David Cone noted he struggled when he walked to the plate with none on and one out in the ninth as Williams pursued a save.
'There he is, Joc Pederson, who has really struggled, ' Ruocco said, with Pederson's .126 average, two homers, six RBIs and .473 OPS displayed on the YES broadcast.
4 Yankees announcer Ryan Ruocco.
YES
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Cone replied: 'Stunning, those numbers are absolutely stunning from Joc Pederson, who signed a two-year, $20 million (sic) deal to come over here. Hitting .126.'
Ruocco mentioned how Pederson had a .908 OPS with the Diamondbacks last year before Williams missed high and outside with the first pitch.
4 Joc Pederson homerered to tie the game Monday.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Williams made the mistake in a 2-1 count, throwing a cookie that Pederson — even with his .126 average — did not miss.
'Devin Williams serves it up and Joc Pederson slams it out,' Ruocco said.
The game ended one inning later after the Yankees, yet again, failed to score on the road in extra innings, and then newcomer Jake Bird allowed his second homer in four days.
The reeling Yankees now are tied with the Mariners for the second wild card spot and are just 1 1/2 games clear of the Rangers for a postseason berth.
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